Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1887-08-24
The Tuneful Donkey

'Sh N'hi li@iht 10 utdIu ToHdEu-
Ing the behavior OF colony of don.
keys that has settled in Hawthorne. 1t
must be concluded that much of this
complaint is well.tounded. A donkey,
unless he has bad cold, has a vol.
nme of voice which makes a locomo-
tive blush TO the smoke,stack, and
shed tears of enyious anger from
Its headlight. This voice properly
used may be of much service but there
don't appear to be any record of such
proper use Used as vent for mid.
night hilarity it is destructive to
human repose, and conducive to great
eXasperationof spirit. Unfortunately
1t is in this manner that the sturdy
beast of burden usually exercises his
vocal organs, and the recent wee haw
OF the burro in the wee sma hours HAS
been the occasion of bitter obiurga-
ton on the part of good citizens who
like to sleep in an atmosphere that is
not vibrant with discordant sounds.
No living creature, not excepting
the ostrich excels the donkey in dlges.
tive ability, and easiness to please as
to the character of its food This gen.
eral assimilation of all kinds of nu.
triment Is advantageous to the animal
and profitable to the owner, as old
ropes, tin.cans, sacks aud boot.legs
make cheap ami wholesome diet
which is an important consideration
in country where grain commands a
high price. Were the donkey's appe-
tite confined to such articles his OBJ.
tanning temporary board IN the streets
would meet with no objection as the
scavenger work would be held to be
OF much more value than the garbage
which he consumes, and it might even
be, that his nightly concert would be
regarded with resignation, but I'M
luckily the wonderful daptability OF
his appetite leads him to relish an
occasional nhble at the bark of young
trees, and to covet nbble at flower.
bushes and vegetables in gardens of
which the gates have been carlessly
left unfastened. This versatility of taste
has a ided to the unpopularity OF the
| burro, and many loud, earnest and
just complaints are heard. However,
there is reason in all things and nearly
always there are two sides to a story.
Could the much abused animal bray
in any language understood by man
he would tell tale of toll, hunger and
| thirst which would arouse the sympa.
| thy of an Indian. He would also
make a statement of benefits, confer.
red on man, which would place him
above responsibility for trifllng depre
dations. Superficial observers see his
homely form and hear his unmusical
voice; they see his not Intrequent in.
difference as to rights of property or
the value of shade trees, and raise
their voices against him. They do not
stop to inquire why he is here and
what he does. 1t Is fair to assume
that the reasonable minded among the
decrlers of the donkey would moder.
ate their abuse. did they stop to think
that the long cared beast has had much
to do in making il worth while to
plant trees in the desert. No cause so
apparently insignificant has been so
potent in producing results profitable
and beneficial 10 mankind IN this sec
ton, and nothing has had more in
fluence Ill creating habitable places
in the wilderness. The browsing
burro carries the water and food OF
the prospector, assists him in his heavy
labor, does it patiently often under
conditions closely similar TO starva-
ton wages Without his assistance
few of the many mines in this land of
grease-wooG and sand would have been
discovered 1t might almost be said
none of them for he otliciated promi-
nently in the first discoveries which
created bases OF supplies for others
and which eventually caused the
building of a railroad, Even now he
helps prospectors to and from the hills
and both directly and indirectly brings
money into the town which he feels
arose from the work of his four hard
| hpofs aud leHthern back. Shut your
gates he Is not sensitive or overnice
and Will mbble uncomplainingly at
the gate post, drive him off promptly
If he inrrudes, but judge i'm not loo
har hly, Tor the good he does over,
balances The evil, and Will live loag
after the evil which is bnried with his
bones, will aid in cnriching the soil
| NJ! the flat